Trade Central: Astros Send Feldman To Blue Jays

THE DEAL

In one of two deals the Blue Jays made Monday to bolster their pitching staff, they traded for 33-year-old Astros righthander Scott Feldman, sending 18-year-old righthander Lupe Chavez to Houston. Feldman has pitched mostly out of the bullpen for the Astros this season but has primarily been a starter throughout his big league career.

Only a half-game back in the American League East, the Blue Jays added Feldman—as well as the Pirates’ Francisco Liriano—for the stretch run. In Chavez, the Astros took on a raw, but highly projectable righthander who is a long way away from his ceiling.

ASTROS ACQUIRE
Lupe Chavez, rhp
Age: 18

Signed out of the Mexican League’s Quintana Roo franchise in 2014, Chavez has picked up where he left off from last year’s late-season promotion to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. The righthander is 4-1, 1.69 ERA, with an excellent 26-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings. Chavez has touched 93 mph this summer and could still add velocity as he matures into his tall, lanky frame. A converted outfielder, Chavez sits 88-91 mph and shows advanced pitchability for his age and experience level. His changeup has plus potential, but his curveball could still be tightened. Though projectable, Chavez is far from being a big league factor for the Astros.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Blue Jays (GCL)	R	4	1	1.69	6	6	32	29	6	6	1	4	26

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE
Scott Feldman, rhp
Age: 33

Feldman has spent the bulk of his career in the Lone Star State, pitching eight years with the Rangers and the last three years with the Astros with briefs stints with the Cubs and Orioles in between. At 69-76, 4.35 in his career, Feldman has been a serviceable middle-of-the-rotation starter but was crowded out of the Astros rotation this season. He’s made just five starts in 2016 and is 5-3, 2.90 in 26 appearances overall, striking out 42 to 13 walks in 62 innings. He should provide versatility and experience for the Blue Jays, who could use him in either role.